Preventing
Child Abuse and Neglect
Through Successful Parenting

The Healthy Families Fairfax Program is funded by Fairfax County, with
additional state and donor organization contributions.

In 2014, Fairfax County spent an average of $78,658** per child for
foster care placements. In contrast, it costs $3,473 per family to
provide prevention services through the Healthy Families Fairfax
program which aims to keep children out of foster care.

**Average cost per child for case management provided through local
social services plus the average cost per child for CSA funded treatment
services.

Healthy Families Fairfax – A Model Program Designed to Help
Families

In 2014, Healthy Families Fairfax served 535 children and 613 families
living in Fairfax County who are at high risk for abuse and neglect.

Healthy Families Fairfax provides home-based parenting education, health
information and referrals to community support to parents from pregnancy
until the child reaches age three and is enrolled in an early group
education experience.

Healthy Families Fairfax is a unique public-private partnership that
includes the Department of Family Services; the Health Department and
three local nonprofit organizations – Northern Virginia Family Service,
Cornerstones and United Community Ministries.

Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

The long-term effects of child abuse and neglect can be serious
and long-lasting.

Studies reveal a powerful relationship between adverse emotional
experiences in childhood and the physical and mental health of adults.*

People who were abused or neglected as children were likely to have a
four- to twelve-fold increased risk for alcoholism, drug abuse,
depression, and suicide attempts. Additionally, there was a 200 to 400
percent increase in smoking, poor health and sexually transmitted
diseases.*

*The ACE study was conducted by the Center for Disease Control and
Kaiser Permanente. Learn more at www.cdc.gov/ace.

Outcomes of Healthy Families Fairfax Program

Objective

Achieved in 2014

Preventing child abuse or neglect

Less than 1% of the families who were at high-risk of child abuse
or neglect when entering the program were later found to have
abused or neglected their children.